Helena Bonham Carter has broken off from filming in America after four of her relatives were killed in a minibus crash on safari.

The actress is said to be “numb with grief” and is due to fly back to Britain to help comfort her family.

Helena, 42, has been given indefinite leave from the set in Albuquerque, New Mexico, of the Terminator movie Salvation.

A film insider said last night: “Everyone here was in a state of shock when the news came through.

“I saw an assistant of Helena’s who told me she is absolutely numb with grief. She can’t believe what has happened.”

Helena’s partner, American film director Tim Burton, 49, is believed to be flying back to Britain with her.

The father of one of the victims broke down in tears yesterday as he spoke about the aftermath of Wednesday’s crash in South Africa.

Charles Egerton-Warburton, whose son Marcus, 14, was killed, was at Pretoria West hospital where his other son Piers, 16, and ex-wife Fiona Bonham Carter were being treated, having survived the accident. Fiona is a cousin of Helena.

Mr Egerton-Warburton said: “Piers is fine. He is being discharged later today. My ex-wife is stable. She has a broken collarbone and will be having an operation later today.

“It’s all very difficult. What I can say is that they are being given absolutely the best care by some of the best doctors in the world.”

Fiona’s brother Graham, 48, who wed Kay last year, was also in the vehicle but escaped injury.

The family had been on safari six hours from Johannesburg. Reports suggest Mr Kirkwood was driving the VW minivan when a tyre blew out, and he did his best to keep it straight before it rolled over.

It is understood the party had already visited one game reserve and were transferring to a second when the accident happened.

Marcus, a pupil at Eton, was a keen sailor who belonged to Bembridge Sailing Club on the Isle of Wight and had spent the summer taking a sailing course there.

Caroline Samuelson, wife of the club secretary, last night said: “Marcus was a thoroughly nice young man, absolutely delightful. He’d been a member of the club for five years and was charming, as is his brother Piers. His father Charlie has a house in the area and the family have long associations with the club.

“We are all absolutely devastated. It’s been a family wipe-out. Poor Fiona has lost her son, her mother, her stepfather and her sister-in-law. Marcus had some very close friends at the club. It’s so very, very sad.”

Marcus was also a keen footballer and cricketer, playing in teams at Eton and the prep school he previously attended, Ashdown House School in East Sussex.

He had set his sights on Cambridge university, where his father had studied.

Friends of the schoolboy have set up an online memorial on the social network site Facebook. One wrote: “Can’t put into words how much i will miss you. You are an amazing person you will never be forgotten. R.I.P marci xxx.”

Another wrote: “I can’t believe. I just can’t believe it. One of the nicest guys in Eton. Will always miss you Markie boy. Love you for ever.”

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